Hippeastrum plant named ‘Opal Star’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hippeastrum  interspecific hybrid plant named ‘OPAL STAR’ particularly characterized by star-shaped flower, measuring 16 to 18 cm in length and about 12 to 16 cm in diameter, and with a unique color pattern of red (RHS 42 B) with yellow-greenish (RHS 146 D) stripes, and dark red (RHS 46 A) veining.

Botanical name of the genus of the interspecific cross of the plant claimed: Hippeastrum Herb., syn. Amaryllis Variety denomination: ‘OPAL STAR’. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct interspecific hybrid variety of Hippeastrum, botanically known as Hippeastrum Herb., syn. Amaryllis, of the Amaryllidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘OPAL STAR’.

The Hippeastrum genus is native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America and the Caribbean, and includes more than 80 different species and several hundred hybrids.

The new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, Dorit Sandler-Ziv, Corneliu Fintea, Aurel Ion, Avner Cohen, Marina Baizerman and Ahuva Daous, in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Hippeastrum variety with excellent ornamental characteristics, adapted to bulb production under Israeli climatic conditions and suitable for both cut flower and pot production worldwide.

The new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ originated from a cross made by the inventors in 2000 in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The female or seed parent is the unpatented, wild-type Hippeastrum papillio designated WT30. The male or pollen parent is the unpatented, interspecific Hippeastrum hybrid designated 97/4 (H. vittatum ‘WHITE’×wild-type H. cybister designated WT40). The new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ was selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant from the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2003 in Bet-Dagan, Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ using the “twin-scaling” method (division of the mother bulb into about 12 vertical segments which are subsequently subdivided into 5 to 6 twin-scale units was first performed in September, 2004, in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The twin-scale units are dipped for 15 minutes in 0.2% BENLATE and 0.5% MARPAN to prevent fungal infection, then the segments are air dried for 3 to 4 hours and placed in moist Vermiculite no. 2 (8% to 10% moisture) and incubated at 22° C. to 24° C. for 3 to 4 months. The resulting bulblets are planted in coco-peat and Tuff 0.8 (80:20%) and grown for 2 years until they flower for the first time. Of the twin scales first propagated in September, 2004, the resulting bulbs first flowered in the winter of 2007, and demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety, is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new variety propagates true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be characteristics of ‘OPAL STAR’, which in combination, distinguish this Hippeastrum as a new, unique and distinct variety:

-   -   1. star-shaped flower, measuring about 16 to 18 cm in length and         about 12 to 16 cm in diameter, and with a unique, color pattern         of red (RHS 42 A) with yellow-greenish (RHS 146 D) stripes and         dark red (RHS 46 A) veining.

Plants of the new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ differ from plants of the female or seed parent, the unpatented, wild-type Hippeastrum papillio designated WT30 , in the following characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female parent New variety H. papillio WT30 Characteristic ‘OPAL STAR’ (unpatented) Plant height 60 to 80 cm 18 to 24 cm Number of flowers per 4 or 5 2 or 3 inflorescence Outer tepal shape elliptic oblanceolate Outer tepal, upper side red whitish main color Outer tepal, upper side dark red maroon red veins

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar to the new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ is the Hippeastrum hybrid (leopoldii-type) ‘Red Lion’ (unpatented), and differs from the new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ in the following characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison variety New variety ‘Red Lion’ Characteristic ‘OPAL STAR’ (unpatented) Plant height 60 to 80 cm 38 to 60 cm Number of scapes per 1 to 3 2 to 3 bulb per year Scape length 55 to 70 cm 38 to 50 cm Number of flowers per 4 or 5 2, 3 or 4 inflorescence Flower shape star shape rounded Flower throat covered with covered with numerous white and numerous white and red hairs yellowish hairs Outer tepal, red, RHS 42 A red, RHS 43 A upper side, main color outer tepal, dark red with thin light- glossy red with short lower side, main color yellow stripes greenish veins Filament, color of yellow red upper part Filament, color of yellow-green red lower part anther color greenish light yellow Fruit/Seed none present

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hippeastrum variety ‘OPAL STAR’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘OPAL STAR’.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up side view of a typical fully open flower of ‘OPAL STAR’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up side view comparison of (1) a typical fully open flower of ‘OPAL STAR’ (top) to (2) a typical fully open flower of the female parent, the unpatented, wild-type Hippeastrum papillio designated WT30.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up side view comparison of (1) a typical fully open flower of ‘OPAL STAR’ (top) to (2) a typical fully open flower of the male or pollen parent, the unpatented interspecific Hippeastrum hybrid designated 97/4 (H. vittatum ‘WHITE’×wild-type H. cybister designated WT40).

FIG. 4 shows a close-up side view comparison of (1) a typical fully open flower of ‘OPAL STAR’ (top) to (2) a typical fully open flower of the unpatented, wild-type Hippeastrum cybister (WT40) (one of the cultivars crossed to produce the male or pollen parent, the unpatented interspecific Hippeastrum hybrid designated 97/4.)

FIG. 5 shows a close-up side view comparison of (1) a typical fully open flower of ‘OPAL STAR’ (top) to (2) a typical fully open flower of the commercial cultivar Hippeastrum hybrid (leopoldii-type) ‘Red Lion’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Hippeastrum ‘OPAL STAR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘OPAL STAR’ as grown in a greenhouse in Bet-Dagan, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Mother bulbs of ‘OPAL STAR’ (about 28 to 30 cm in circumference) are cut into 12 vertical segments which are subsequently subdivided into 5 to 6 twin-scale units. The twin-scale units are dipped for 15 minutes in 0.2% BENLATE and 0.5% MARPAN to prevent fungal infection, then the twin-scale units are air dried for 3-4 hours and placed in moist Vermiculite no. 2 (8% to 10% moisture) and incubated at 22° C. to 24° C. for 3 to 4 months. The resulting bulblets are planted and grown in raised, heated soil beds (soil temperature maintained at an average temperature of about 20° C. to 22° C.) in coco-peat and Tuff 0.8 (80:20%) and grown for 2 years until they flower for the first time.

Plants of ‘OPAL STAR’ have been grown in an insect-proof greenhouse, covered with a permanent polycarbonate roof with movable polyethylene curtains, and under 50% shading. Drip irrigation is administered at 80-100 m3/ha and a liquid fertilizer is applied of (NPK 5:3:8) 50 ppm. Plants of ‘OPAL STAR’ are grown with an average winter air temperature of about 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and about 6° C. to 12° C. during the evening and an average summer air temperature of about 22° C. to 38° C. during the day and about 18° C. to 22° C. during the evening. Plants of ‘OPAL STAR’ reach full growth about 6 to 10 weeks after planting cured bulbs.

Quantified measurements are expressed as an average or a range of measurements taken from a number of plants of ‘OPAL STAR’. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average or range.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in full sunlight in Bet Dagan, Israel.

All of the plants of ‘OPAL STAR’, insofar as they have been observed, have been consistent in all the characteristics described below.

The age of the ‘OPAL STAR’ plants described is about 6 to 10 weeks after planting cured bulbs.

-   Classification: -   Botanical: Hippeastrum Herb. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—unpatented, wild-type Hippeastrum             papillio designated WT30.         -   Male or pollen parent.—unpatented, interspecific Hippeastrum             hybrid designated 97/4 (H. vittatum ‘WHITE’×wild-type H.             cybister designated WT40). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—“Twin-scaling” method (division of the mother bulb             into vertical segments and twin-scale units). -   Roots:     -   -   Habit and description.—fleshy; inserted around basal plate             of bulb.         -   Length.—Up to 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—2 to 4 mm.         -   Color.—off-white, RHS 158 C. -   Plant:     -   -   Appearance.—perennial, herbaceous; 1-3 scapes developing             sequentially with a complement of 5 to 8 leaves.         -   Growth habit.—erect.         -   Habit.—leaves are slightly arching and scapes vertical.         -   Vigor.—strong.         -   Growth time.—Following asexual propagation, 2 years of             growing time are required to produce a flowering plant.             Plants of ‘OPAL STAR’ reach full growth about 6 to 10 weeks             after planting of cured bulbs in late autumn.         -   Size at maturity.—Height: 60 to 80 cm. Spread: 50 to 60 cm. -   Bulb (described after harvest and curing, before planting):     -   -   Overall shape.—spherical.         -   Shape in cross section.—rounded.         -   Shape in longitudinal section.—elliptical to oblate.         -   Length.—7.5 to 9.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—9.5 to 10.2 cm.         -   Surface.—irregular.         -   Color of flesh.—yellow-white, closest to RHS 158 C.         -   Color of dry scale.—greyed-orange, RHS 165 B.         -   Harvest time of bulbs.—beginning of August in Bet-Dagan,             Israel. Lifted bulbs are dipped for 15-20 minutes in 0.2%             BENLATE and 0.5% MARPAN solution and then air dried for 10             days.         -   Storage time.—Stored in 9° C. from mid August until mid             November (10-12 weeks) in Bet-Dagan, Israel. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement and attachment.—basal from scale; single.         -   Number per plant.—typically 5 to 8.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—linear.         -   Apex shape.—acute.         -   Base shape.—parallel.         -   Shape of cross-section.—V-shape.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Margin undulation.—none.         -   Upper surface.—smooth, medium glossiness.         -   Lower surface.—glabrous, very strong glossiness.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—65 to 85 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—65 to 80 mm.         -   Mature leaf color of upper Surface: dark green, RHS 137 A.         -   Mature leaf color of lower Surface: dark green, RHS 137 C.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel, inconspicuous venation. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—one umbel per scape with 4 or 5 single,             star-shaped flowers that open sequentially.         -   Natural blooming period.—in spring in Bet-Dagan, Israel.         -   Flowering response time.—after planting cured bulbs, plants             typically flower within about 6 to 10 weeks.         -   Flowering longevity.—on the plant: 7 to 10 days, depending             on temperature.         -   Flowering longevity as cut flower.—5 to 8 days.         -   Inflorescence fragrance.—none.         -   Inflorescence type.—umbel.         -   Umbel.—Height: 20 to 25 cm. Diameter: 15 to 20 cm.         -   Number of flower buds and flowers per umbel.—4 or 5. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—broad elliptic.         -   Length.—9 to 11 cm.         -   Width.—2.5 to 3 cm.         -   Surface.—smooth.         -   Color.—ground color, medium yellow-green, RHS 146 D, with             greyed-purple veins, RHS 183 A. -   Scape:     -   -   Appearance.—erect, leafless, hollow.         -   Twisting.—slightly twisted towards umbel.         -   Shape in cross-section.—elliptical.         -   Length.—About 55 to 70 cm.         -   Maxium thickness of upper part.—23 to 26 mm.         -   Maxium thickness of middle part.—26 to 32 mm.         -   Maxium thickness of basal part—30 to 32 mm.         -   Surface.—glabrous.         -   Glaucosity.—strong.         -   Color.—dark green, RHS 137 C.         -   Intensity of anthocyanin coloration at base.—Medium. -   Flower:     -   -   Arrangement.—an outer whorl of 3 tepals and an inner whorl             of 3 tepals.         -   Rate of opening.—flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days             after beginning of tepal separation; all flowers, per umbel,             open in about 8 to 14 days.         -   Attitude.—outwards.         -   Shape.—star-shaped.         -   Length.—16 to 18 cm.         -   Diameter.—12 to 16 cm.         -   Throat.—covered with numerous white and red hairs. -   Tepals: Number and arrangement: slightly overlapping and arranged in     an outer whorl of 3 tepals and an inner whorl of 3 tepals. Outer     tepal: Shape: elliptic. Apex: obtuse with slight twisting of tip.     Base: obtuse. Margin: entire with medium strong undulation. Length:     10 to 11 cm. Width: 50 to 52 mm. Upper surface: smooth. Lower     surface: smooth. Main color of upper surface: red, RHS 42 A. Color     of middle zone of upper surface: light yellow-green, RHS 146 D.     Color of veins of upper surface: dark red, RHS 46 A. Main color of     lower surface: dark red, RHS 46 A, with thin yellow-green stripes,     RHS 145 A. Color of middle zone of lower surface: dark red, RHS 46     A, with thin yellow-green stripes, RHS 145 A. Inner tepals:     Arrangement: one central lower tepal and two lateral tepals. Central     tepal: Shape: spatulate. Apex: acute. Base: acute. Margin: entire     with weak undulation. Length: 9.5 to 10 cm. Width: 32 to 35 mm.     Upper surface: smooth. Lower surface: smooth. Main color of upper     surface: red, RHS 46 C. Color of middle zone of upper surface: light     yellow-green, RHS 145 B. Color of veins of upper surface: red, RHS     46 C. Main color of lower surface: light yellow-green RHS 145 D.     Color of middle zone of lower surface: greyed-purple, RHS 183 C.     Color of veins of lower surface: red, RHS 46 C. Lateral tepals:     Number: 2. Shape: ovate. Apex: obtuse with slight twisting of tip.     Base: obtuse. Margin: entire with strong undulation. Length: 9 to     11 cm. Width: 40 to 45 mm. Upper surface: smooth. Lower surface:     smooth. Main color of upper surface: red, RHS 42 A. Color of middle     zone of upper surface: light yellow-green, RHS 146 D. Color of veins     of upper surface: dark red, RHS 46 A. Main color of lower surface:     dark red, RHS 46 A, with thin yellow-green stripes, RHS 145 C. Color     of middle zone of lower surface: dark red, RHS 46 A, with thin     yellow-green stripes, RHS 145 C. Color of veins of lower surface:     not visible.     -   -   Pedicel.—Strength: strong. Attitude of flower: semi upright.             Length: 50 to 80 mm. Thickness: 5 to 7 mm. Surface: smooth.             Color: medium green, with strong anthocyanin coloration. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 6. Arrangement: adpressed to             lowest tepal, distal ends upwardly curved. Anthers: Color:             yellowish-green in unripe stage, RHS 145 C. Shape:             elongated. Length: 8 to 10 mm. Filaments: Length: 95 to             105 mm. Thickness: 2 to 3 mm. Color of upper part: yellow,             RHS 2 D. Color of lower part: yellow-green, RHS 145 B.             Pollen: Amount: abundant. Color: aellow-green, RHS 150 B.         -   Gynoecium.—One pistil, 10 to 13 mm in length. Stigma: Shape:             three-lobed. Color: white. Style: Length: 10 to 13 mm.             Thickness: about 2 mm. Color of upper part: yellow, RHS 2 D.             Color of lower part: Very light yellow-green RHS 145 C.             Ovary: Color: green, with medium anthocyanin coloration. -   Fruit/seed: none. -   Disease/pest resistance: None tested or observed. 

1. A new and distinct Hippeastrum interspecific hybrid plant named ‘OPAL STAR’, as illustrated and described herein. 